Japanese woman loses toe tips after coworker allegedly puts acid in her shoes

By Yoko Wakatsuki and Jethro Mullen, CNN

Updated 3:02 AM ET, Fri March 29, 2013

Story highlights

A 40-year-old man is accused of putting corrosive acid in his colleague's shoes

The female coworker had to have the tips of five toes removed

Police say they believe the suspect had "romantic feelings" toward the victim

The suspect denies the accusations, police say

It's a case that could make you think twice before leaving your footwear unattended.

Japanese police say they have arrested a man over allegations he tried to kill a female colleague by putting hydrofluoric acid, a highly corrosive chemical, in her shoes.

The alleged attack, which police say took place in December, caused gangrene to develop in the toes of the woman's left foot.

To deal with the problem, doctors had to remove the tips of five of her toes, said Teyuaki Harano, deputy chief of police in Gotemba, the city less than 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo where the suspect, Tatsujiro Fukazawa, was arrested Thursday.

Fukazawa, 40, denies the allegations of attempted murder, according to police.